Document details new NCAA enforcement plan

Jul. 11, 2013
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Under a proposed NCAA enforcement plan, former Connecticut men's basketball coach JIm Calhoun could have faced a suspension or other restrictions for violations committed by a member of his staff. / David Butler II, US Presswire

by George Schroeder and Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

by George Schroeder and Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

Head coaches in football and basketball will be held directly accountable for NCAA rules violations by members of their coaching staff in radically new legislation that is expected to be adopted Tuesday by the Division 1 Board of Directors, according to a document obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

The nine-page document outlines some specifics in the NCAA's new four-tier penalty structure, which would take effect immediately and replace the current rigid categories of secondary and major violations, and addresses several kinds of violations in football and men's basketball that can lead to the suspension of a head coach.

One example the document alludes to is the University of Connecticut basketball violations involving the recruitment of Nate Miles, in which head coach Jim Calhoun "failed to alert the compliance staff and administration of possible improprieties between the agent/booster" and prospect. Under the new structure, penalties could have included a suspension or other restrictions for Calhoun.

And the primary message for head coaches is that ignorance will no longer be acceptable as a defense.

The document reads, "A head coach is presumed responsible for major/Level I and Level II violations (e.g. academic fraud, recruiting inducements) occurring within his or her program unless the coach can show that he or she promoted an atmosphere of compliance and monitored his or her staff."

Any coach who is found responsible for the most serious violations under those guidelines will be subject to an entire-season suspension, according to the document.

The new guidelines also state that beginning Aug. 1, 2013, men's basketball coaches can be suspended for violations ranging from illegal contact with recruits, giving team gear to prospects or impermissible benefits given by third parties if the coachknows the third party has a relationship with the recruit.

Football coaches can face suspension for violations such as holding 7-on-7 on campus or providing written scholarship offers before Aug. 1 of a prospect's senior year.

In both cases, the head coach could be suspended for violations committed by his assistants.

"It's a tougher penalty structure, there's no doubt about it," Southern California athletic director Pat Haden said in an interview conducted prior to USA TODAY Sports' acquisition of the document. "The point is, for head coaches -- and this goes for any sport -- you have this responsibility. You need to be constantly vigilant and you need to be constantly coaching your coaches about how important it is to play by the rules."

Haden is a member of the 20-person working group that forwarded the proposal to the NCAA Board of Directors.

Head coaches can avoid penalties for violations committed by their staff if they can document vigilance about potential red flags. For example, the document states that a head coach should ask about how unofficial visits are paid for and advises head coaches to ask their assistants if they suspect a third party or handler is involved in the recruitment.

The document also makes clear that elite prospects should create "a heightened sense of awareness," leading to closer monitoring by head coaches and compliance staffs.

Under the new rules structure, coaches will be advised to assign a liaison to the compliance office, constantly document procedures for following rules and make clear they are paying attention to red flags.

"A lack of immediate action by the head coach will be a significant factor in determining whether the head coach met the obligations" to avoid suspensions, the document states.